"Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman... who are those people?" 'Lightspeed' Flash asked as he glanced around at the group.
"They're Scarlet Witch—Wanda, and her brother Quicksilver—Pietro. That's the Ancient One, Sorcerer Supreme. He's traveling to this world with Shin," Green Arrow explained casually.
'Lightspeed' Flash's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Marvel!? Are you kidding me!? Mutants and Kamar-Taj actually exist? I thought the Flash comics were already unbelievable enough!"
It turned out 'Lightspeed' Flash had indeed read Marvel Comics. Not only that, but the version of Barry Allen he had read about was actually the second-generation Flash. His knowledge of the original Flash had also come from comic books, and he'd even nicknamed himself after the Flash because of his admiration for the hero in the comics.
[T/N: Jay Garrick is the first speedster to be called 'Flash'.]
Then one day, while traveling through time, he encountered the real, original Flash, and it was only then that he realized the comics he had read were actually depictions of parallel worlds.
So while he was still surprised by the appearance of figures like Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and the Ancient One, he didn't experience the kind of disbelief an ordinary person might. In his world, comic book superheroes were real, something that had already reshaped his perception of reality.
Among the trio, only the Ancient One remained unfazed. Having witnessed countless parallel universes, he was no stranger to such anomalies. Wanda and Pietro, on the other hand, looked visibly bewildered by 'Lightspeed' Flash's outburst.
Shin simply brought 'Lightspeed' Flash over to them, letting him share his perspective and insights.
Later, after dinner, Shin noticed that Wanda seemed distracted, and Quicksilver didn't look particularly pleased either.
"What's wrong, you two?" Shin asked, glancing at them.
Quicksilver hesitated, then finally blurted, "It's just… it's a bit hard to believe. My sister, falling in love with a robot…"
"Pietro!" Wanda snapped, her tone sharp. "What nonsense are you spouting? That's just a possible future—it doesn't even have to happen! Are you going to marry an Inhuman princess and live on the moon?"
Pietro flinched. "Well, that would be ridiculous too. I mean… marrying a robot… come on."
Irritated, Wanda waved her hand, and Pietro immediately found himself mute, his voice catching in his throat.
Even though Scarlet Witch's powers had weakened considerably after leaving the Marvel Universe, especially without the direct support of Chaos Magic, she could still manage small-scale reality manipulation. Silencing her brother was easy work.
Breathing heavily, Wanda finally calmed down. But when she noticed Shin's expression, she grew flustered and quickly tried to explain.
"Don't listen to him. Pietro's just talking nonsense, seriously."
Shin shook his head lightly. "Don't worry about it. I doubt your future will play out exactly like the one 'Lightspeed' Flash read about in his comics."
Every individual's choices are closely tied to their unique experiences. Wanda's current path, personality, and development had already diverged significantly from the comic version.
For one, the twins had never been involved with Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants or with any major mutant organizations. Their experiences under Shin's guidance had exposed them to different paths, ones that brought knowledge, discipline, and even wealth. That alone had dramatically shaped their worldview and personalities.
They were no longer purely hero or villain archetypes, they had evolved into something else entirely.
Wanda looked visibly relieved at that. But after a moment, she hesitated and asked, "Um… is Magneto really my father?"
Shin paused, then shook his head.
"I honestly don't know. That story has been revised so many times across so many universes. You could always do a paternity test when the time comes."
Indeed, the origins of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver had been retconned repeatedly throughout Marvel lore. It was anyone's guess which version they were living out in this reality.
"But it's not a big deal," Shin added. "Magneto's still around and very active. We'll deal with that bridge when we get to it."
He then turned to Wanda with a more serious expression.
"Wanda, what you should really be focusing on now is yourself. Chthon isn't someone you can underestimate. He transformed you into a Chaos Force host, and he didn't do that out of kindness."
Shin had wanted to warn her about this before, but Wanda had been unaware of the deeper nature of the Chaos Force. Now, following 'Lightspeed' Flash's input, it was the perfect opportunity for a deeper discussion.
Wanda's face darkened. In many ways, she was no different from someone like Elektra of Black Sky. The only reason Chthon hadn't taken over her completely was that he was still sealed in another dimension.
But the more Wanda used Chaos Magic, the more she strengthened his influence over her. Her continued reliance on his power chipped away at the dimensional seal keeping him locked away. Eventually, that seal would weaken enough for him to cross over, and when that happened, Wanda would be consumed.
Even if she stopped using Chaos Magic, it wouldn't halt the transformation of her body into a vessel for Chthon. In that case, she would simply be defenseless when the time came.
It was essentially the difference between a risky gamble and a slow, inevitable death.
This fusion of Wanda's mutant abilities and Chaos Magic was unique. It allowed her to wield Chaos energy with a power far beyond that of an ordinary mage, but it also made her the perfect host.
"I just… I don't know what to do," Wanda muttered, her voice cracking slightly. "I feel like I'm stuck. I can only keep pushing forward, little by little."
"No," Shin said calmly. "There's another option. You need to strengthen yourself, Wanda. Enough to truly challenge Chthon."
He looked her in the eye.
"You have to understand, your connection to Chaos isn't just Chthon's doing. Your innate talent plays a huge part. That's why even Chthon can't completely sever your link to Chaos Magic."
"And now, while you're in this world, cut off from Chthon's link, you have the perfect opportunity to grow stronger without drawing his attention. This is your chance, Wanda."
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