"Mystique?"
The moment Mr. Fantastic and the others spotted the Invisible Woman sitting beside Richard, they had the exact same reaction as the Human Torch earlier—assuming she must be the shape-shifting mutant Mystique.
Though they didn't voice their suspicions aloud, the Human Torch immediately read their expressions and clarified, "She's not Mystique, nor is she a clone. This is Susan Storm from a parallel universe."
"Parallel universe?"
Surprise registered on the faces of Mr. Fantastic and his companions. Though the concept of parallel universes had been theorized for years, no one had ever provided concrete evidence of their existence.
"Is what Johnny said true?" Susan asked Richard, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yes," Richard replied with calm assurance. "I traveled to a parallel universe some time ago and brought them back."
"Them?" Thing immediately frowned, his rocky brow furrowing.
He had initially assumed Richard had only brought back the Invisible Woman, but now realized he had underestimated Richard's ambition. It was entirely in character—Richard either did nothing at all or went all-in. Never halfway.
"Who else did you bring back?" Susan pressed, leaning forward slightly.
"Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, and Sharon Carter, Agent 13 of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Richard answered methodically.
Now that he had brought the Invisible Woman to the Baxter Building, he saw no reason to hide the full extent of his interdimensional excursion from the Fantastic Four. Though Black Widow and Agent 13 from the zombie universe hadn't made public appearances yet, they couldn't remain sequestered in Silver Manor forever. Mr. Fantastic and the others would inevitably discover their presence—better to be forthright now.
Besides, Richard's visit to the Baxter Building with the Human Torch wasn't merely to reveal his parallel universe travels. He had another objective: to enlist Mr. Fantastic's help in developing a device—one that would allow him to traverse worlds without relying on his Template System.
Though he couldn't guarantee Mr. Fantastic could create such technology, based on Reed's capabilities in the comics, Richard believed the challenge shouldn't be insurmountable. After all, Reed Richards wasn't just known as "Mr. Fantastic" in the comics—he carried the reputation of being both a "miracle worker" and "the smartest man on Earth."
If anyone could craft a device enabling travel between parallel realities at will, Mr. Fantastic would certainly be among the few capable. The only other person Richard could think of with comparable abilities was Tony Stark.
"You brought Susan from a parallel universe to meet us," Mr. Fantastic said, settling onto the sofa across from Richard. "This can't just be to show off your interdimensional travel capabilities, right?"
"Of course not," Richard replied without hesitation. "While I wanted to inform you about this development, my primary reason for coming is to request your assistance."
"What kind of assistance?" Mr. Fantastic inquired, his scientific curiosity piqued.
"I'd like you to help construct a device capable of traveling to parallel universes," Richard stated directly.
"A device for interdimensional travel?" Mr. Fantastic regarded Richard with confusion. "Haven't you already mastered the ability to traverse parallel universes?"
"I have, but I can't yet travel between universes at will," Richard explained carefully.
While his journey to the parallel universe had been facilitated by his Template System's World Travel function, Richard had no intention of revealing the system's existence to anyone.
Mr. Fantastic fell silent, contemplating the request. After more than ten seconds of consideration, he frowned and said, "I'm sorry, but I may not be able to help you with this. I have no concept of how interdimensional travel works, let alone how to engineer a device to accomplish it. I'm a scientist, not an omnipotent deity."
If Richard had asked for help with something within his wheelhouse, Reed wouldn't have hesitated. But creating technology for interdimensional travel was beyond even his considerable capabilities.
After hearing Mr. Fantastic's answer, Richard smiled. "How can you know without trying? While I can't provide technical specifications, I can give you something for reference."
With those words, he retrieved the Infinity Gauntlet from his system space and carefully extracted the Space Stone embedded within it.
"What is that?" Mr. Fantastic and the others stared at the glowing gem in Richard's hand, expressions filled with curiosity and confusion.
Before they could ask further questions, Richard explained: "This is called the Space Stone. It can create portals to any location in the universe."
"While the Space Stone itself cannot bridge multiple universes, studying how it generates spatial gateways could provide valuable insights into the fundamental principles of space travel. A parallel universe is, after all, simply another spatial dimension."
Richard placed the Space Stone on the table between them. As Mr. Fantastic reached toward it, Richard suddenly remembered a crucial detail.
"Don't touch the Space Stone with your bare hands," he warned. "Direct contact might trigger its power, causing it to teleport you somewhere else. It's safer to handle it with gloves."
Mr. Fantastic's outstretched hand froze midair. He frowned and said, "You could have mentioned that earlier."
"I just remembered," Richard admitted. "I'll leave this with you to study. Guard it carefully—there's only one Space Stone in each universe."
Richard returned the now-incomplete Infinity Gauntlet to his system space, his expression serious.
Only one in each universe? The others pondered this revelation.
Though six Infinity Stones were born with each Marvel Universe, there was indeed only one Space Stone. Even though the Space Stone he was entrusting to Mr. Fantastic had come from the Zombie Universe—and Richard still possessed this universe's Space Stone—he didn't want Reed to lose the duplicate.
Richard knew the Time Variance Authority monitoring the sacred timeline held many Infinity Stones, but he personally possessed only two Space Stones. He would be genuinely distressed if either were lost.
"I'll safeguard the Space Stone and ensure it doesn't go missing," Mr. Fantastic promised solemnly.
"See that you do," Richard replied. "If there's nothing else to discuss, Susan and I should be heading back."
As he finished speaking, Susan of this universe turned to the Invisible Woman from the parallel universe and asked, "Could we speak privately for a few minutes?"
"Of course," the Invisible Woman nodded.
"Let's go to the study," Susan suggested, rising from her seat and heading toward the study.
The Invisible Woman from the Zombie Universe glanced at Richard first, then stood and followed Susan out of the living room.
Half an hour later, Richard left the Baxter Building with the Invisible Woman from the Zombie Universe. They drove away in a black Rolls-Royce Phantom, heading toward Silver Manor.
"What did you two talk about in the study?" Richard asked, glancing briefly at the Invisible Woman.
"Nothing special," she replied without hesitation. "Just some topics that women typically discuss."
"She didn't ask about your universe?" Richard pressed, his curiosity evident.
"She did," the Invisible Woman acknowledged. "She also asked about my relationship with Reed."
"I told her that Reed and I were a couple, and that he turned into a zombie... and was ultimately killed by you."
The Invisible Woman spoke with remarkable composure. Though her beloved Reed was dead, she had clearly accepted this reality—her face betrayed no lingering sorrow.
"Did you ask her why she never accepted Reed's confession?" Richard turned to look at the Invisible Woman, genuinely curious about this divergence between universes.
"She thinks Reed is somewhat old-fashioned and doesn't understand romance," the Invisible Woman explained thoughtfully. "Though she and Reed have known each other for years, she's always felt he was better suited as a friend than a romantic partner."
Old-fashioned? Upon hearing her answer, Richard's expression seemed to say, "That figures."
Mr. Fantastic might possess an extraordinary intellect, but his genius-level IQ evidently didn't grant him insight into the complex nature of women. Then again, that was hardly surprising. If Reed Richards had been as socially adept as Tony Stark, that would have been the true anomaly.
After returning to the manor, Richard bypassed his own bedroom and went directly to the Invisible Woman's quarters. There, they engaged in a mutually satisfying "debate" on the origin of life.
The following afternoon, Richard lounged on a sofa on the bedroom's balcony, wearing sunglasses and contemplating his system task: "One-Winged Angel (III)."
According to his previously established training schedule, today was the day to implement his Superboy-Prime training regimen. After lunch, he had positioned himself on the balcony to begin the day's sunbathing practice.
The system had given him three months to complete the "One-Winged Angel (III)" mission that had been issued just yesterday. Though only one day had passed, Richard was determined to complete the task as quickly as possible to claim the 10% fusion degree reward.
As he weighed whether to journey first to Jotunheim, realm of the Frost Giants, or to Muspelheim, domain of the Fire Giant Surtur, his cell phone rang. Checking the caller ID, he saw it was Tony and answered casually while remaining stretched out on the sofa.
"Is the Anti-Richard armor ready yet?" he asked with a smirk.
"Can you please stop mentioning the Anti-Richard Armor every time we talk?" Tony complained from the other end, his voice tinged with exasperation. "Every time you bring it up, I feel like I owe you money."
Initially, Tony had assumed creating anti-Richard armor wouldn't pose much of a challenge. After all, he was the world's foremost weapons inventor. But it seemed he had overestimated himself.
Every time he believed his design was perfect, the simulation results from JARVIS proved otherwise. In the time since he'd agreed to develop the anti-Richard armor, he had designed more than thirty versions. Yet not a single one had successfully passed JARVIS's combat simulations—a deeply frustrating reality for Tony Stark.
"Tell me, what do you want?" Richard asked directly, deciding not to tease Tony further.
"Nothing really," Tony replied with audible amusement. "I just heard you'd hooked up with the Invisible Woman, so I called to confirm. You're quite something, stealing away Mr. Fantastic's love interest without making a sound."
Though Tony had calmed down considerably in recent months and no longer harbored ambitions of romantic conquest, his fundamental character remained unchanged.
"I'm noticing you're becoming increasingly gossipy," Richard observed dryly. "And I didn't steal anyone. The Susan I brought to the party last night isn't the Invisible Woman you know. I visited a parallel universe recently, and that Susan is the one I brought back from there."
With that, Richard ended the call without waiting for Tony's inevitable follow-up questions. After being hung up on, Tony didn't call back.
Placing his phone on the nearby table, Richard returned to his deliberation about whether to visit Jotunheim or Muspelheim first. After brief consideration, he decided on Jotunheim.
His reasoning had nothing to do with Frost Giant King Laufey being weaker than Fire Giant Surtur. Rather, it was because Laufey was Loki's father—a connection that might prove useful.
Decision made, Richard closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and surrendered to the sun's warmth and strengthening effects.
As night fell, Richard enjoyed a traditional Chinese dinner with Emma Frost, Clarice, the Invisible Woman Susan, Black Widow Natasha, and Sharon in the main building's first-floor restaurant. After the meal, he sat in the living room, contemplating which bedroom he might spend the night in.
At that moment, a brilliant beam of light reminiscent of the aurora borealis descended from the sky, speeding toward the manor's lawn.
The Rainbow Bridge!
The magnificent aurora now streaking toward the grounds was none other than Asgard's iconic transportation system and strategic weapon—the Bifröst.
Though sitting in the reception room, Richard was the first to sense the Rainbow Bridge's formidable energy signature. Without hesitation, he teleported immediately to the manor lawn.
Just as he materialized, the Rainbow Bridge touched down. When the rainbow light dissipated, two figures stood before him—strangers, yet instantly recognizable.
Thor, God of Thunder, and Loki, God of Mischief!
Richard's brow furrowed upon seeing the Asgardian brothers. Though this universe's Thor was indeed an Avenger, unlike his cinematic counterpart, this Thor rarely visited Earth. Apart from teaming up with the now-deceased Captain America and Iron Man during several crises, he seldom came to Midgard of his own volition.
"Richard Wesley," Thor announced, Mjölnir gripped firmly in his hand, "my father wishes to see you. Please accompany us."
Odin wants to see me? Richard regarded Thor and Loki with confusion, unable to fathom why the All-Father would suddenly request his presence.
After a moment's thought, he addressed them: "I don't make a habit of leaving with strangers."
"We are the sons of Odin," Thor replied calmly.
"I am Thor, God of Thunder from Asgard, and this is my brother, Loki, God of Mischief. We harbor no ill intentions—Father simply wishes to speak with you. We will return you here after your audience with him."
This Thor is remarkably composed, Richard noted with interest.
He had expected Thor to react with displeasure or anger at his refusal, perhaps attempting to force him to Asgard. But this universe's Thor appeared far less impulsive than anticipated.
Facing this unexpectedly calm Thor, Richard proposed: "How about this—you two brothers spar with me together. Win or lose, afterward I'll accompany you to Asgard to meet with Odin."
Before Richard's words had fully faded, Loki's cold voice cut through the air.
"Kneel, ignorant mortal!"
Loki fixed Richard with an icy stare, his haughty command dripping with disdain.
Kneel?
Upon hearing Loki's demand, Richard smiled and shook his head. He drew Masamune from his system space, pointing the blade's tip directly at the cold-faced God of Mischief.
"You're not worthy enough to make me kneel," he declared with unmistakable contempt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Support me at [email protected]/goldengaruda and check out more than 60 chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~